Reversing clutch mechanism.



J. E. GLEASON & E. W. BULLOCK.

REVERSING CLUTCHMECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. 1917.

1,269,701. Patented June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

IN V EN TORS W TNESSES:

J. E. GLEASON & E. W. BULLOCK.

REVERSING CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12. I917.

Patented June 18, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\INVENTO 65E iii f2? WITNESSES:

A TTORNEYS.

IL. MIN

STATES PATENT OFFICE. James n dnnasonnnn semen w. BULLOCK,orcnoonns'rna, new Yoitx; AssIenons TO GLEASON worms, or nocnnsrnn, NEWronx, a COLRPORATION on NEW YORK.

REVERSIN G CLUTCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented June 18, 1918.

Application filed December12. 1917. .Serial No. 206,830.

part of this specification, and to the reference characters markedthereon.

The invention relates to clutch mechanisms and the purpose is to providean effioient and practical form of clutch which will withstand the hardusage of normal operating conditions and require little attention orrepair. More articularly the invention is intended to a ord a quicklyand positively operating clutch for a reversing mechanism, and toovercome the usual tendency of a clutch, when under a load, to stick toits supporting member, making it continuously more difficult to move theclutch for reversing. To these and other ends the invention consists incertain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will behereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

-In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showlng the ap lication of theinvention in its preferred orm to a reversing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism which controlsthe reversing operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig- 3 and showin the parts in the positionassumed at the eginning of av reversing operation;

Fig. 6'is' a sectional view on line 6"6 of Fig. 2;

Fi 7 is a sectional view on line 7*- a of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clutch device and cooperating drivingmembers.

Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

In the structure shown, which is illus trated by way of example only, 1and 2 designate a pair of driving gear members which move continuouslyin opposite directions and serve to transmit their motion alternately toa driven member or shaft 3 in a manner which will be describedpresently. For-the purpose of describing the invention, it isunnecessary to show any particular means for operating the gear membersabove mentioned, as it can be understood that the mechanism isapplicable to any machinery where it is desired to intermittentlyreverse the movement of an intermittently operated element and anyconvenient means may be adopted for imparting the required motion andspeed to the driving gear members. Furthermore, the clutch device of theinvention is not necessarily to be confined in its broad application toa reversing mechanism, but has other advantageous uses where it isdesirable to frequently shift a clutch element.

' The driven shaft 3 includes a'cent ral holi low portion 4, andjournaled therein is an arbor which is pivotally mounted in the shaftand forms a support for the clutch device. The latter includes anannular element or ring 6 which is fixed on the arbor 5 and adapted torock or swing therewith. The ring 6 carries a clutchmember in the formof a plate 7 which has oppositely projecting teeth 8 at opposite edges,and isslidable upon'the ring 6 to permit it to .readily engage the teeth9 formed on the gear members. This slight lost motion of the member 7prevents likelihood of breaking'the clutch teeth when the clutch deviceis shifted from one gear member to the other. The clutch member 7 isheld in place by suitable overhanging portions 10 formed upon securingplates 11 and engaging the ends of the clutch member. There issufficient clearance between the latter and the fianges 10 to permit therequired slidable device is likewise shifted in opposite directionsabout the axis of the arbor 5 and in this way the driven shaft is movedin opposite directions through its connection by the clutch device withthe oppositely moving gear members. The arm 12 is automati callyoperated at predetermined intervals, first in one direction and then inthe other, by means cooperating automatically with its free end.

The arm 12 is provided with a series of gear teeth 14, preferably formedon a removable plate that is attached to the arm, and engaging with theteeth 14 is an operating gear segment 15, which is carried by a pin 16journaled in the shaft 3. The shaft 4 carries a support 17, fixed thereon, and provided with a journal 18. The gear segment 15 is oscillated bya rack bar 19 which is slidable in the support 17 and is fixedlyconnected to a sleeve 20, slidable on the journal 18 and movableintermittently thereon in opposite directions.

To this end, the support 17 has fixed thereon a bevel gear 21, whichengages and drives a bevel gear 22, see Fig. 2. The gear 22 is fixed onan arbor 23 journaled in the housing 24. The gear 22 is provided with a,guideway 25 and adjustably arranged, in said guideway are two stops, inthe form of blocks 26 provided with rollers 27, which alternately engagea projection 28 on .a slide 29 and impart an intermittent reciprocatingmovement to the latter. Referring to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive the slide 29carries upstanding portions 30 which 'coop erate with an abutment .31 ona plate 32, attached to a swinging frame 33. The frame 33 is pivoted ona spindle 34 and carries shoes 35, which engage between flanges 36 onthe aforesaid sleeve 20, and thus impart the necessary oppositemovements to the sleeve.

It isdesirable that the shifting of the clutch take place instantly, andto this end the movement of the frame 33 is started by the continuouslymoving parts already described, while its final movement is effected bya spring actuator. To this end, the frame 33 carries a roller 37 Figs. 2and 6, which cooperates with oppositely inclined surfaces 38 formed onan actuator or plunger 39 moved upwardly by a spring 40. As the gear 22and the adjusta le blocks 26 rotate, the slide 29 is moved, causing acorresponding swinging move ment of the frame 33 until the latter passesjust beyond the vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5. By this time, theroller 37 will have passed over the highest point of the plunger 39, andthe spring 40 comes into action and through the inclined surface 38,swings the frame 33 quickly to its extreme position. This movementproduces a corresponding shifting of the sleeve 20 and 'plate 32.

rack bar 19, which operates the clutch device in the manner alreadydescribed. It will be understood that as soon as one of the blocks 26engages the projection 28,

movement of the gear 22 is reversed'through the gear 21 on the drivenshaft, and thereupon the gear 22 moves in the opposite direction untilthe other block 26 engages and moves the slide 29 back to its initialposition, and this operation continues while the driving gears are inmotion.

In order to retain the clutch device in its adjusted position at anygiven time, we employ locking members which cooperate with the sleeve20, and prevent its reverse movement except at the predeterminedcontrolling point. These locking members are preferably in the form ofplungers 41, Figs. 2 and 3, provided with shoulders or projectingportions 42 adapted to extend into the path of the flanges 36 on thesleeve. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that one of the lockingplungers isretracted while the other one is engaged with the right handflange 36, so as to prevent movement of the clutch device. The lockingplungers are actuated by springs 47 ,Fig. 2, and also have shoulders 48which lie in the path of the inclined faces 49 on the aforementionedThus, as the frame 33 swings from the position shown in Fig. 3, theinclined surface 49 at the right of the figure engages the shoulder 48on the uppermost locking plunger, and retracts it previously to anyactual movement of the sleeve 20. The latter is thus released, and underthe impulse of the spring controlled plunger 39, moves to the right,whereupon the other locking plunger is released and engages the flange36 at the left of the figure.

In case it is desired to effect a manual shifting of the clutch device,the frame 33 can be swung on its axis by hand, and to this end weprovide a hand lever 53, journaled on the spindle 34 and carrying aprojection 54 engaging a recess 55 in the frame. The hand lever 53 isheld in its normal position by a spring pin 56, and can be shifted atwill to effect movement of the sleeve 20 and of the clutch device.

The structure described possesses great advantage from the fact of theextreme power that is rendered available for moving the clutch device.It will be observed that the latter is constantly in motion in onedirection or the other, and consequently its shifting must overcome aconsiderable amount of friction. This is successfully accomplished byarranging the clutch device rapidity, thus making it practicable forcontinuously operating reversing mechanisms in a great variety ofmachines.

lVe claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a pair of rotatable gear members, of a rotatableshaft, and a clutch device carried by the shaft and having swingingmovement in opposite directions to engage alternately with said gearmembers.

2. The combination with a pair of rotatable gear members, of a rotatableshaft, a clutch device carried by the shaft and having swinging movementin opposite directions toengage alternately with said gear members, arelatively long arm carried by the clutch device, and means cooperatingwith the free end of the arm for moving the clutch device.

3. The combination with a pair of rotatable gear members, of a rotatableshaft, a clutch device carried by the shaft and having swinging movementin opposite directions to engage alternately with said gear members, arelatively long arm carried by the clutch device and provided with gearteeth at its free end, and an operating segment in engagement with saidgear teeth.

4. The combination with a pair of oppositely rotating driving members,of a driven member, and a pivoted clutch device carried by the drivenmember and which is automatically swung about its axis intermit tentlyto alternately engage the driving members.

5. The combination with a pair of oppositely rotating driving members,of a driven member, a pivoted clutch devicecarried by the driven member,a relatively long arm carried by the clutch device, and means 00-operating with the free end of the arm acting automatically to move saidarm and swing the clutch device"intermittently to alternately engagesaid driving members.

6. The combination with a pair of oppositely rotating driving members,of a driven member, a pivoted clutch device carriedby the driven member,a relatively long arm carried by the clutch device and provided withgear teeth at its free end, an operating segment engaging said gearteeth, and automatic means acting intermittently to move said segment inopposite directions.

7 The combination with a pair of oppositely rotatingdriving members, ofa driven 1 member, a clutch device carried by the driven member andcomprising an annular element pivoted between said driving members so asto swing into engagement with either one and'having oppositely directedteeth at its sides for alternate engagement with cooperating teeth onthe driving mom bers.

8. The combination with a pain ofoppositely rotating driving members, ofa driven member, a clutch device carried by the driven member andcomprising an annular element pivoted between said driving members so asto swing into engagement with either one and having oppositely directedteeth at its sides for alternate engagement with cooperating teeth onthe driving members, a relatively long arm carried by the clutch device,and automatic means cooperating with the free end of said arm forintermittently swinging it in opposite directions.

9. The combination with a pair of oppositely rotating driving members,of a driven member, a clutch device carried by the driven member andcomprising an annular element pivoted between said driving members so asto swing into engagement with either one andhaving oppositely directedteeth at its sides for alternate engagement with cooperating teeth onthe driving members, a relatively long arm carried by said clutch.device having gear teeth at its free end, and an operating segmentengaging said gear teeth and automatically movable in oppositedirections intermittently 10. The combination with a pair of rotatablegear members having clutch teeth on their adjacent sides, of a rotatableshaft, and a clutch device carried by said shaft having movement toalternately engage the gear members and provided with a movably mountedclutch member having. oppositely directed clutch teeth on its edges.

11. The combination with a pair of rotatable gear members having clutchteeth on their adjacent sides, of a rotatable shaft, 9. pivoted clutchdevice carried by said shaft having swinging movement in oppositedirections and provided with a slidably mounted clutch element havingoppositely directed clutch teeth on its edges.

JAMES E. GLEASON. EDWARD w. BULLOCK;

